This article is part of Football FanCast's The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more... 

West Ham reverted back to their old ways and because of Manuel Pellegrini repeating the same failures, it meant that a defeat against Wolves was always likely.

On the chalkboard

A midweek trip to Wolves was always expected to be difficult given their unbeaten run and strong defensive record - they have now conceded 17 goals in 15 league games - but Pellegrini's selection choice raised more questions than answers.

While he could do little about Michail Antonio's absence, the decision to recall Sebastien Haller was never the right call to make, and the Frenchman showed that with a typical below-par performance.

The striker is not just without a goal or assist in seven games now, but his all-round display against Nuno Santo's men meant his team suffered, contributing zero key passes and a pass accuracy of just 55%, as per SofaScore.

Meanwhile, the service to him was also poor, which is an all too familiar story of the Hammers' season so far, yet Pellegrini continues to persist with Pablo Fornals and Felipe Anderson. The former recorded just one key pass in the entire match.

Same old problems

Time and time again this season West Ham have struggled to score, and often they lack ideas and a style which unlocks opponents, yet Pellegrini still picks the same personnel.

While Robert Snodgrass did have a brilliant opportunity to equalise, that was West Ham's sole opening against Wolves, and next time out Pellegrini has to be more willing to mix things up.

Did he really play for us?! No West Ham fan has managed to name all of these obscure Irons signings....

The so-called creative midfielders particularly need dropping. Anderson lacked the pace and movement to provide the energy needed to play behind Haller, and although he looked tidy with possession in his own half he too failed to make an impact in the attacking final third.

The Brazilian failed to achieve a shot throughout, while Fornals looked lost on the left, and not for the first time.

Since signing he has played across the midfield, and it is not surprising that West Ham have won just once when he has started on the flanks - at Chelsea. Although he got the assist for Aaron Cresswell's goal in that match, it was largely the left-back's making.

The lack of personnel makes life difficult for the Hammers' boss, but playing the midfield three in a more fluid style, with players given freedom to take up space as they see fit, should make them more unpredictable and with clever runs forward they should be able to break through the opposition defence with more regularity.

Fredericks wasn't the only one who bore the brunt of criticism for being poor against Wolves, with fans also expressing a feeling for who they missed at Molineux, too.